By HENRY FREDERICK / Headline Surfer
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Mother's Day was overcast skies that hid the sunshine, but that didn't stop Volusia County Chair Ed Kelley, with wife, Mary Margaret, by his side, and thousands of others from enjoying their time in East Central Florida's natural paradise - the hard sands of Daytona with the rolling surf.
"Made it to beach, cool to be able to drive and park on the beach," Kelley wrote on his Facebook page with a pic of the husband and wife in a pose.
"Made it to beach, cool to be able to drive and park on the beach," Kelley wrote on his Facebook page with a pic of the husband and wife in a pose.
This was the first weekend in more than a month that cars were allowed back on the beach with the COVID-19 pandemic still in play.
And as such, social distancing was paramount Saturday and Sunday.
Volusia Beaches flew the red flag today, but there were no water rescues, Captain A.J. Miller, watch commander with Volusia County Beach Safety told Headline Surfer in an email alert.
The situation was more of a challenge Saturday with three water rescues requiring the pulling of seven to shore as flags were changed from yellow to red with a strong wind fueling the current.
A total of 14 vehicle access were open to facilitate a limited amount of parking on the beach, the next step in the phased lifting of restrictions that were put in place to help slow people-to-people spread of the coronavirus. To ensure that social distancing is maintained, all vehicles were required to park in front of a post or blue marker. Bathroom facilities were opened as well.
The vehicle ramps that were open were clustered in seven sections of the beach from Ormond Beach south to New Smyrna Beach.
With social distancing guidelines still in effect, beach parking in the seven sections were limited to one vehicle for every post/blue marker on the beach.
Over the past 10 days, the county has been installing posts in between habitat conservations posts along most of the beach that will be open Saturday. Posts are located at least 25 feet apart in order to prevent overcrowding.
Furthermore with social distancing, – a maximum of six people per group, with at least 10 feet of distance between groups of beachgoers – was enforced.
From north to south, the vehicle beach ramps that are open for parking were as follows and will continue until further notice moving forward:
Granada Boulevard, Cardinal Drive, Williams Avenue, Seabreeze Boulevard, Silver Beach Avenue, Florida Shores Boulevard, Van Avenue, El Portal Street, Dunlawton Boulevard, Beach Street, Beachway Avenue, Crawford Road, Flagler Avenue, and 3rd Avenue.
In addition to the 14 beach ramps opening for all vehicle access, the ramp at Williams Avenue in Daytona Beach were and will remain open for ADA access only. Vehicles must have a handicapped tag or placard to use the Williams Avenue ramp. As always, beachgoers are reminded to swim in front of a staffed lifeguard tower for their safety.
Headline Surfer infographic / Volusia County Chair Ed Kelley and his wife, Mary Margaret Kelley, are the proud parents of Katherine Kelley Wallace, and of Brian Kelley (of the country music duo Florida Georgia Line).